Eighteen houses were evacuated during the hunt for potentially dangerous items at the former home of Liam Lyburd.

22:55, UK,Wednesday08February2017

Image: Liam Lyburd was sentenced to life behind bars

Bomb disposal experts have searched the garden of a man who planned a massacre at his former college in Newcastle.

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Police said they were investigating whether two "potentially dangerous items" had been buried at the former home of Liam Lyburd, who was jailed for life in September 2015.

But after more than six hours, police said "nothing of concern had been found".

Lyburd gathered pipe bombs, a semi-automatic pistol, expanding bullets, a machete and a "kill bag" for an attack on Newcastle College after he was thrown out because of his behaviour.

But his plot failed after police were told about his online rants.

Image:Lyburd planned the massacre after he was kicked out of college

Police raided his home in Hamilton Place, Newcastle, last November and found the weapons, incriminating evidence on his laptop and the bag containing overalls, masks and pipe bombs.

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The current occupant of the house was moved while the search took place. Eighteen other nearby houses were also evacuated.

Chief Inspector Alison Best said: "We want to thank local people for their support throughout this operation.

"We received information that there could have been potentially harmful objects in the garden of the property and given the circumstances it was appropriate that we called in the experts to carry out the search.

"We are now satisfied following assistance from EOD (explosive ordnance disposal) and Tyne and Wear Fire Service that there is nothing of concern at the location. Local residents can go about their normal business."

Lyburd was told he would serve a minimum of eight years, but the judge said it could be "a very long time" before he was considered safe to be released.